Values ·
MPC Values | Adaptability
ADAPTABILITY
The last year has *really* tested me with my ability to adjust to evolving circumstances. I think it’s tested a lot of us. Politics. Coffee Prices. Delayed store opening. My own personal shit.
Honestly, I think it’s probably a never ending reality. As Phil Stutz says, uncertainty is one of life’s few guarantees. And to me, it’s acceptance of uncertainty that drives whether we learn the skill of adapting or not.
Years ago, it was a fully immersed reality having to adapt to a whole new culture and language when we lived in India (with a newborn mind you). Currently, it’s a mixture of the state of our political climate and the fact that our new store is still not open, among other things.
But I cannot control what I cannot control (I mean, can we even actually control what we think we can anyways??)... So I learn to let go. Daily. Sometimes hourly.
Acceptance. Mindfulness. Gratitude. These are a few things that really help with that despite me often still reacting to something poorly or being upset at a frustrating circumstance I am facing.
Adaptability is the final value of Mad Priest that we attempt to uphold the best we can. We’ve written on all the others, like transparency and authenticity, in hopes that you would come to have a deeper understanding of how we operate as a business, and our hopes to have it overflow to anyone who drinks our coffee.
This is a snippet we wrote in our brand guide that we hand anyone who comes to work with Mad Priest, which I feel honestly sums it up best.
"We believe in adaptability and flexibility. Life is a maze and sometimes a rabbit hole, with twists and turns, plots and subplots, and possibilities that turn in and turn out (per the lyrics of Animal Liberation Orchestra). Thus we know and understand the need to adapt and be flexible. This applies to our business – that we need to adapt and be flexible in order to be successful. But also understanding this critical point allows us to do this – maintain low expectations.
If we can take one day at a time with no real expectations (regardless of what's planned), we can approach every scenario, whether wonderful or a shit storm, ready to overcome. We will strive to exemplify this mindset throughout every work day through the spirit of optimism, positivity and hope (though never dismissing the realities of reality and difficulty). And through this mindset, we encourage the ability to adapt, grow and change – with hopes to become a better individual."
I believe this is an important skill we develop, especially in trying times. But also, adaptability does NOT mean we are complacent or just accept the things around us we can have a voice in.
So as we drink our coffee, let’s take some deep breaths. Life is wild and full of unknowns. I genuinely think our ability to adapt and release expectations will allow us to truly thrive and pursue living our most authentic lives, not to mention assisting in our physical and mental health.
Get Mad. Stay Blessed.
+Michael
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